Beijing: Favourites Brazil stormed into the women's Olympic volleyball final in Beijing on Thursday where they will meet surprise package United States.
Brazil stormed past hosts and reigning champions China 3-0 (27-25, 25-22, 25-14) while the US stunned hapless Cuba in a 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-17) canter.
Brazil's victory in some way made up for their despair four years ago when they blew five match-points at 24-19 against Russia in the semi-final before eventually coming away empty handed.
China came out the traps firing and quickly opened up a 5-1 lead. But it is not for nothing that Brazil have yet to drop a set and the favourites dug in hard before dragging themselves back into the set and taking it 27-25.
In a thrilling end, brilliant defence from Brazil allowed Castro to smash home the winning spike after a lengthy rally in which China had several opportunities.
Normal service was resumed in the second set with Brazil in the ascendancy but China stuck doggedly to their task and briefly held the lead before the samba stars finished them off 25-22.
China were not letting Brazil have things entirely their own way but the South Americans simply had too many match-winners all over the court and played with a fluidity that no other side can replicate.
But in the final set it was one-way traffic as the talented Brazilians made the class count.
The Americans had already upset World Cup winners Italy in the quarter-finals and here were up against a side that had won every match so far, dropping only three sets in six matches.
Cuba had thrashed the United States in their group meeting with their powerful spikers dominating in a 3-0 victory.
But this win for the States proved a remarkable turnaround based on improved teamwork, according to Kimberly Glass.
"I think the team just came together. The first time we played them Cuba kicked our butts but that didn't deter us," she said.
"We always fight. We came together as one unit. When we first started playing we played individually. It was ugly and we made a lot of errors."
While Cuba had the top three ranked players in the tournament in Yumika Ruiz, Rosir Calderon and Nancy Carrillo, their reception play was far less convincing.
They were error-prone in the first two sets as the Americans, led by coach Lang Ping, a legend of Chinese volleyball, played an inspired game.
They took the first set 25-20 on a Kim Willoughby spike and then stormed through the second 25-16 with Willoughby again sealing it.
Any chances of a Cuban fightback quickly evaporated, though, as they started the third set badly and got steadily worse throughout.
Led by veteran Danielle Scott-Arruda, USA managed to nullify the Cubans while the Latin Americans continued to make a plethora of errors, particularly on the serve and reception.
They made 29 mistakes compared to just 10 by the Americans, who had six service winners to just one by Cuba.
"The US team played very well, however we didn't, especially on service and reception," said Cuba captain Ruiz.
Willoughby, who started on the bench and only entered the fray towards the end of each set, sealed the victory again as her final spike was deflected off to the side.
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